What vs. Which
You can use 'what' and 'which' interchangeably; however, there are some delicate differences between these two. Let us start learning it through this article.
What Are Their Main Differences?
Differences
Unlimited vs. Limited Options
"What" is used when there is no clear limit or definitive choice among the options, or when the speaker is asking for general information. For example, when you ask; 'What is your favorite color?' the person can choose many different colors.
"Which" is used when the speaker has a limited set of options in mind, or when they are choosing from a specific group. For example, you might ask "Which animal do you prefer, a dog or a cat?"
Background Knowledge
When the question is asked with "what," it generally implies that the speaker has no specific knowledge of the options, or they are open to any response. When the question is asked with "which," the speaker has some background knowledge or a limited set of options in mind options, and the question is about choosing one of them.
'What' and 'Which' as Relative Pronouns
Both "what" and "which" can function as relative pronouns; however, when used as a relative pronoun, "what" changes into "that".
The house
The small animal
Similarities
'What', 'Which', or Both?
In certain situations, "what" and "which" can be used interchangeably, but this typically happens when the speaker is referring to a small, defined set of options. In such cases, "what" can be used in a way that sounds similar to "which", especially when the set of options is already obvious from the context or when it’s a common situation.
Comments
(2)Recommended
